LG tourism — July 1889
The tourism outlook was shaping up.
“The season looks promising at Lake George and the guests are arriving,
The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on July 1, 1889.
The Sagamore Hotel had 200 guests, more than usual for early in the season, The Morning Star reported on July 8.
The Kattskill House had 18 guests, the Grove House 10, Sheldon House 8, and Mayflower hotel 20.
“The lake was gay yesterday with many steamers, everything that went by steam being in use. … The season opens auspiciously. Given dry, hot weather, the hotels will soon be filled.”
The Trout Pavillion had 16 guests, and had served dinner to about 80 people on July 4.
By mid-month the guests were plentiful enough to field pick-up baseball teams, with the Kattskill House team defeating the Trout Pavillion 5–3.
G. Pirovano, “a leading pianist” from Albany was a guest at Horicon Lodge, The Morning Star reported on July 12.
The Union College camp was set to arrive July 15.
The Zeta Sigma Society was staying at the Kattskill House.
“Horicon Lodge has never had so many applications for rooms. … The Kattskill House has a large number of guests, and prospects are bright for a prosperous season.”
At The Fort Henry Hotel, the 11-member house orchestra recently played for a hop at the dance pavillion, The Morning Star reported on July 15.
“The season at Lake George is fairly well under way, although the full complement of guests is not yet noted at most of the hotels. But still, take it all in all, the patronage thus far is very satisfactory.”
Some tourists brouht their own musicians.
“A party of excursionists, including several residents of New York, who are visiting Glens Falls, will drive to Lake George this evening and take possesion of the Arlington parlors,” The Morning Star reported on July 17. “They will be accompanied by musicians and will probably while away a few hours in the dizzy mazes of the waltz.”
More tourists were on their way.
“A party of seventy New England pleasure seekers have reached Saratoga on their way to Lake George and Ausable Chasm,” The Morning Star reported on July 18.
Hotel keepers were generally pleased.
“Landlord McClanathan of the Phoenix House on Lake George is having a prosperous season,” The Morning Star reported on July 19.
The Trout Pavillion had 65 guests on July 24 and 75 guests a week later.
“The recent hop at the Hundred Islands House passed off very pleasantly,”The Morning Star reported on July 31. “The parlor was beautifully decorated with gorgeous ferns, flags, etc. Robert Hicks of New York, who was master of ceremonies, added very much to the pleasure and comfort of the party, his genial manner and the attention of the hostess making everybody feel at home.”
The waiters of The Sagamore hotel held a hop at the Fourteen-Mile Island House.
Col. E. W. Sheppard, manager of the capet department at W. M. Whitney & Co. of Albany, was a summer guest at the Horicon Lodge for a third consecutive season.
Hotel keepers grieved the death on July 27 of Henrietta F. Cashman, age 63, of Kattskill Bay.
“She kept a boarding house there and was well and favorably known at the lake and in this place and vicinity,” The Morning Star reported.
Click here to read my most recent Lake George tourism history post.
